God in the Good AND Bad times

So I'm at the library, obviously they have much better Wi-Fi than we have satellite and I hoped it would enable me to be able to load all our pictures and clean up my blog some:)  It did!  WOOHOO!

So now let me blog about somthings that have been on my mind......


As you can imagine I get a lot of blogs and Facebook pages sent my way.  So many people caught in life altering situations.  Some have cancer, a disability, disease, accidents etc....they all are sad.  I feel bad for anyone who is facing anything like that or who has a love one who is.

But I see things, I can't help but see things.  There are people who have no regard for God at all until they face a tragedy.  Then they are crying out to Him for help.  They may not change their lifestyle or ask him to be the Savior of their life, but they want help from Him right then!  God can use circumstances in a person's life to remind them of their need for Him (I'm NOT saying God puts things on people but life happens......)  

We get calls all the time, the church line rings in our home.  It's always someone asking if we (the church) pays for electric bills, water bills etc....  I always tell people that we do help out members of our congregation and that they should ask their church for help.  Some say that they don't go to church, some get angry....  NONE have every said they've asked their church and been told no.  Why?  Because there are people who want things from God ( or God's people) but they don't want to have to give anything, they don't want to give their lives to God, they don't' want to participate within a body of believers,  they want to take but not to give anything.

Ok by now you've decided I'm a hard hearted women, I've been called worse.....   You are wondering about my Christianity.

The bible teaches us throughout the Old and New Testament to take care of the poor and needy, the REAL poor and needy.  It also tells us if a man won't work, he should not eat.  It talks against laziness all throughout scripture.  Yes, anyone could have a tragedy and need help, I'm all for raising money for a situation like that.  I LOVE to give towards good and worthy things. 

It seems so much like people want to seek God's hand, what He will give them rather than to seek His face. 

I don't want to be like that.  I want to follow God no matter what comes my way.  I want to serve Him in the GOOD times, then I know He'll be there in the Bad times.  I'm not perfect for anyone who thinks I think that!  But I knew who God was BEFORE tragedies  hit my life, it makes life much easier!  I'm not saying God won't hear someone during their hard times if they aren't serving God before that time, but it is so much easier to walk through life, with God. 

Let me encourage you to draw close to God today, don't put it off until a tragedy strikes or a need arises. 

Spring pictures and Steve's graduation pictures

 

 

My friend Kandi who owns Twisted Oak Photography

813-368-4853

did this photography shot for us.  She is amazing and really got the pictures that express our family.  Here is a few of the over 1000 we took yesterday:)  As you can imagine I 100% recommend her for family/graduation/parties/Christmas/baby (and anything else you can think of) photography shots!  she has great rates and great ideas to help you personalize your event.

 

 

 

 

 

Ok this picture just almost brings me to tears....I LOVE my Sarah so much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jon and me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selah did so good, sweet girl!

 

 

 

 

My men

 

 

 

Shad on his tire swing

 

 

 

 

 

My girls!

 

 

 

my monkey:)

 

 

 

Sam!

 

 

Our Brownie

 

 

Brownie with my other baby (the garden) in the background)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of the above pictures were taken at home to make it easier on Selah.

Then we went to the Town Train Depot Museum for some pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

this is my favorite one of Steve!  Love this!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then on to Hillsborough River State Park, one of our family's favorite places in the world!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't worry we checked out the stump GOOD to make sure there were no critters in it! 

When we first got to the park, we were walking down the trail to the river and a snake went under our feet.  I usually do NOT wear sandals to the woods, but had them on, let's just say, everyone was more afraid of getting trampled by me than getting bit by the snake!  LOL!  Once we got a good look at it, we saw it was just a garden snake but when someone yells "SNAKE" and you have flip flops on, it's best to get your feet off the ground LOL!!!!

 

So this is just a few of the ones she took, I'm sure I'll be posting more:)  Hope you enjoy them, we just love them, they are precious!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally Friday

Today we got a check in for $200, so we are at  $862!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
my goal is $1000 for her operation.  Go and read about her at
http://www.gofundme.com/78kap0   you can give through the site or through our church
Grace Church
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Fl
33540
mark it: Sonya's surgery!

http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/selah-clanton-zephyrhills-fl/todays' answer is rear and side entry....  we are close to 10,000....please vote and help us hit the 10,000 mark!


Today one of my best friends, Kandi who is also a photographer- spent hours of her last day of Easter break taking family and Steve's graduation pictures.  They are just amazing!  There is one of me and Sarah that almost makes me cry:)  She took over 1000 pictures and most of them are just great!!!!   I can't wait to get them and start putting them up-promise not all of them LOL

We did family pictures here at home, then she did some of Steve at the train station and at Hillsborough River State Park.  They are just amazing pictures!!!! Can you tell I'm excited?

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This morning I was reminiscing with Shad about how my Aunts & granny used to cook...my grandmother would have LOVED to have cooked for my kids-ALL of them love to eat! Even Sarah with her puréed food-she's the first one to the table LOL. I didn't want to eat when I was a kid cause i wanted to play then as a teen I was afraid of gaining weight I never appreciated their cooking. My kids do NOT have that problem!!!!! 

Yesterday I cooked a small breakfast, then a LARGE Brunch and as soon as the kitchen was cleaned up, one of my kids was asking me what was for supper....  I said why can't the kids be like pythons or gators who only eat once a week!   I swear all they think about is FOOD!  FOOD!  FOOD!

This week I spent a lot of time working on various kinds of paperwork.  UGH hate paperwork and still have so much more to do.  I really need a secretary. 

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Update on Katie....she is responding!!!!!!!  Please keep praying for her!

Bad Blogger

I've been a bad blogger!  It's been hard for me to focus lately, so let me get caught up!


First Sonya!  We are still at $662, my goal is $1000 for her operation.  Go and read about her at
http://www.gofundme.com/78kap0   you can give through the site or through our church
Grace Church
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Fl
33540
mark it: Sonya's surgery!

Don't forget to vote for Selah!  We are at 9570 votes!  We still have the rest of this month!   You can vote once every day from any country!  You can also try for the extra vote daily  Today's answer is FALSE- it's actually one in every 5 elderly people have mobility issues. 



We've been busy this week.  Today I took Selah to an appointment with Neurology. Doctor is convinced she is having seizures. He had her have an EEG in the office. It showed there are times when she has a lower brain wave than others which could mean she had a small seizure, and her mind is responding to it. I'm NOT convinced at all. She will have an MRI and we will see if there is any brain loss since the last one. If there is, that could be proof she is having seizures. He did put her on a low dose anti seizure med that also makes her not as stiff so I agreed on that for 6 weeks to see if we see any difference.

Sarah continues to have POOP, lots of it.  she is scheduled to have an xray this week to see if the blockage is gone.

Sam continues to be bad:)  He gets everything down and makes a mess and is so cute I can hardly stand it!

Shad has Easter break this week!  WOOHOO  love having Shad-Man home!

Steve is studying for the ACT test (college entrance exam)  He has a lot of good things going on right now and is HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY:)

That's our quick update.  Sorry the pictures are "wooky"  I LOVE that word LOL  I'm going to the library one day and see if I'm at a regular Wifi place , maybe I can fix them.  We live in the county on satellite....

Update on Katie who tried to commit suicide....she is doing better finally.  She is able to squeeze hands in response to questions!  she swallowed today.  Please keep praying for this precious young lady! 

Also Luke who had a car accident is also doing better.  Please keep praying for him

Both of these young people come from homes where their parents are in the ministry.  Their parents have been so faithful to God over the years. 

Hope you all are having a great week.  I really want to get back to blogging, real blogging but I'm feeling overwhelmed with my life once again.  I've got like all kinds of paperwork to do yet again and that just stops me in my tracks completely.  Hate this feeling.  So I'm not feeling too creative right now! 

Easter Pictures

HAPPY EASTER!

Hope you can see the pictures.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter

Growing up, I have many good memories of Easter.  It was an exciting day, the egg hunts, the new clothes and shoes, the church filled, beautiful weather...  Of course it wasn't  Christmas with the presents, Christmas plays and a couple of weeks off from school.   As a child, Christmas was my favorite holiday.  But now as an adult, I realize why Easter is the most important holiday.

Anyone can celebrate someone's birth, but who else is there that we can celebrate his resurrection from the dead?  I'm sure that all the other religions have a day when they say their leader was born, and they also have a day that leader died.  There are no other empty tombs. 

Recently the truth of Easter has just rolled over my soul.  The truth of Easter gives hope for now and for us eternally.  The debt of sin is gone, forgiveness can be found and an eternal life can be our reward.

I don't understand all the deep truths about the Cross, why did Jesus have to die.....couldn't there be another way?  But that was the way God had planned from the beginning of time, to bring salvation to all.  I can't comprehend it all but I believe it.  Jesus came and died for my sins, for your sin and for the sin of the world. 

Have a blessed day
Christ has risen!

Poop and Hashimoto Thyroiditis

I have so much to share.......

FIRST...I just got a check from a family in Colorado for $319 for Sonya's surgery!!!!!!!! That brings the total so far to $662!  So we are over my original goal but since the month is still young....Our NEW goal is $1000 for Sonya's surgery!!!!   I do know of several folks who have given on line to them also and thank you so much ( so actually we are at about $720 but I want to be able to really bless them so we are not counting that towards our goal, we are going to go OVER the goal for this little girl!)  I'm thrilled to be a part of this, what a blessing to be able to bless someone else. 

So you can give here....  http://www.gofundme.com/78kap0
or mail a check to
Grace Church
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Fl
33540

When I opened the sweet card and read it, I just cried!  Thank you my friends in CO! 
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Yesterday I did not vote for us!  I was so tired by the time I got home....
http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/selah-clanton-zephyrhills-fl/
today's answer is TRUE


Well yesterday went great.  Sam had his swallow study first and he didn't have any reflux, but he did have some residue left over after he swallows, kind of caught in his upper throat.  Basically all he needs to do is eat slow and drink with his meal.  We will continue to use small straws so he doesn't take in too much liquid at once.

Sarah's swallow study was just about the same, she also keeps a little residue in her upper throat.  The tech also evaluated her for feeding therapy and of course recommended it.  She feels Sarah is now moving food around in her mouth and will learn to chew....ONE DAY!  She made me feel good and told me to keep gently introducing things to Sarah and that we were on the right track.  When Sarah first came home, she just swallowed, now she likes to move food around in her mouth while she is eating and she lick her lips which is like a big good sign:)   I had just started giving her popsicles and she is biting them off which is a great start for biting food!!!

We did get some surprising news.  The doctor had ordered a stomach xray and found (as she had suspected) that Sarah has a bowel blockage of poop.  She poops all the time and it is liquid.  We thought her bugs were back but the doc felt like she had an obstruction and was pooping around it.  She was right.  BUT Sarah is now on a clear liquid diet and is taking Mirelax every hour.....we have a poop house!  Already we have gotten out our steam cleaner.....I won't tell you what we had to clean but if you visit my house, you might want to be careful where you sit!  LOL

Sarah has been a trouper, I thought she would cry just getting liquids like chicken broth and jello but she is so sweet.  She is as happy as always.  I had even called the doctor's office this morning and asked what to do if she got really upset since food is important to Sarah (since she was so malnourished)  I didn't know if I could handle her being upset but she has been fine and we are offering her stuff all the time.  She eats pureed foods but they are very hearty stews, soups etc....not thin broth!

WELL.....I have BIG news.....
We went this morning to the hospital for me to have the thyroid biopsy.   The tech first did an ultrasound then the doctor came in to talk to me.  He said he did not think the things in my thyroid is actually a nodular but rather my own thyroid .  He said my thyroid is very misshapen and has a different look than most.  I told him the other doctor had said I had a disease that would cause my thyroid to quit working evidently.  THEN he said that explains everything!  He ordered another very in depth ultrasound and said I had every indication of Hashimoto Thyroiditis where basically my auto immune system is killing my thyroid and one day my thyroid will not work anymore. 

SO I did NOT have to have the needle biopsy.  The doctor said there was nothing that stuck out to him as cancer, I do have lumps all up in the thyroid but not those kinds of lumps.  He says he has seen this misdiagnosed before.   So now I need to find a really good endocrinologist for myself.   The ODD thing is my hormone levels are mainly been normal! 

I'm thankful that it doesn't seem to be cancer!  This diagnosis may explain all the pain & stiffness I have.  I push through it most of the time but I'm quite sore all over-especially my neck/shoulders area all the time.   Some days I'm sorer than others but it is always there.  I had just decided it was part of aging and carrying my little ones around. 

Well hope you all have a great weekend!

**** Update on Luke
he is off the vent and starting to respond to his family!  Please continue to pray for him!!!!!!!!